As of earlier this month, GM switched the plastic used for several body panels on the 2016 Corvette to a lighter one. It's an advanced composite referred to in the press blurb as a “space-age material” – TCA Ultra Lite by a company called Continental Structural Plastics.

General Motors is planning to spend $5 billion over the next several years to develop a new range of small cars based on a common architecture. The technology-rich vehicles will be built and sold as Chevrolets in China, Brazil, India, Mexico and other emerging markets.

Volkswagen AG has overtaken Toyota as the largest automaker by deliveries in the first half of this year. While Toyota sold 5.02 million vehicles through June, VW has reported 5.04 million sales, putting it on track to gain the worldwide sales crown three years ahead of its target.

We were certain that this was a prototype for the new Opel or Vauxhall Astra GSi until we saw the car's Buick waterfall-style front grille that left us with a similar expression to the GM engineer upon seeing our spy.

Rumor has it that the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Cruze will be offered as a hatchback as well along the sedan body style. As a matter of fact, Chevrolet has reportedly shown the Cruze hatchback last month at a national dealer meeting in Las Vegas.